I’ve enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. As a child, when grown-ups asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I’d say, “I want to be a writer.”
In early grade school, I tried my hand at poetry. In sixth grade, Mom gave me a little red diary with a lock and key. I wrote in it every day, mostly about which boys I thought were cute and which one might like me. Or not. From there, I started writing about things that were happening around me. During a week-long canoe trip, I chronicled each day’s events. A birthday party at a friend’s farm formed the basis of a mystery story.
Somewhere between grade school and college, my dream of being a writer became just another childhood fantasy. I had more important things to do, or so I thought.
My first job after college required me to write a monthly newsletter. People complimented my writing ability and suggested I try writing for publication. After completing a writing correspondence course, I placed several of my articles in periodicals like Seek, Today’s Christian Woman, Discipleship Journal, and The Messenger.
When I was asked to write a play for a women’s dinner theater held at my church, I had no idea where to even start. But they gave me an idea and I ran with it. Or should I say, wrote with it?! I felt awfully proud of myself when the drama director accepted “Homespun Angel.” But watching the performance was truly humbling. I’d given these people a story in black and white and they made it Technicolor. I gave them a skeleton and they gave that skeleton flesh and blood, hair and clothing and life. What a thrill!
After that, I pretty much gave up writing to raise my family. After my youngest entered school, it took me nearly 12 years to figure out how to write a novel. But the result was a Christian novel for junior high kids called Sticks & Stones. It’s currently being considered by a couple of publishers, and I pray it will find favor with one of them. In the meantime, if you’d like to get an idea what the story is about, check out my website at http://www.maryhamiltonbooks.com/
You can also follow me at https://www.facebook.com/MaryHamiltonBooks
Twitter: @mhamilton122
